Maria

Whatever is on your schedule to do today take a moment to ground yourself. Once you are in it trying to shift might be a bit more complicated. Remember to breathe deeply. Remember to remember that you are made from the same elements that are in the stars and the oceans. You come from great beauty. Most of us forget that and get “stuck” in the thoughts of the memories of the ickies we have experienced. Those were experiences meant to teach not to hurt. The hurt is simply a sign that you are looping the thought of the experience. In other words thinking about it again and again and again thinking that you can change something. Ask what it came to teach you and breathe through the lesson. Welcome it. You are always safe. I repeat, YOU are always safe! Now go out there and have some fun! Don’t make me repeat that too sistah-friend! Go out there and have a blast!!!

I’m writing to you from the tail end of one of the most fantastic experiences of my life, a Goddess weekend. A good friend invited me to an annual event where an inn keeper in VT invites the goddesses she knows to come and rejuvinate for a weekend. Even though I did not sleep many hours each night I felt like I had had a full night sleep the night before because of the energ work we were doing here. Here are some of the observations of what I did. I hope that you can do the same in your life…

1. We did not gossip. Energetically gossiping about others is one of the strongest ways to take your energy and flush it down the toilet of life. In our world today it is epidemic so be mindful when it starts. Most of us get a temporary high when we first gossip because for a short time you align with the people around you but that is a temporary feel and what you are really doing is “donating” a lot of your energy to things that will give you no return on your emotions.

2. We surrounded ourselves with people who support us. Use your instincts for this one. Get out of the land of should and feel where you are. People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Make sure you don’t morph into what you think they want you to be. That is also a very simple way to give your energy away with no return. Surround yourself with people who support you! When you are with people who are grounded you will many times also be grounded without having to “do” anything. Simple living. What comes after that is your authentic self…..Mmmmmmmm, deliciously YOU!

3. We had no expectations. We simply went with what came. If we were hungry we ate. If we wanted to play cards we did. If we wanted to go take a nap we did. Now, I know this is a retreat and if you have little ones and/or work this might make it a little challenging but remember that each moment brings a precious opportunity to live your life the way you were put on this planet to do it. No one can do it for you. If you give up that power you will never feel true happiness, only emptiness and not-enoughness.

I’m getting to pack up the bargains I bought at the second hand store and a few other trinkets I found along the way before I go to my massage this morning! YAY!!!!!!!! If you are reading this you are in alignment. The universe is talking to you, as it always is, all you have to do is listen. It’s like being at a very loud party and trying to hear what someone is saying who just called you on your cell. The universe does not usually “scream” at you so the only other option is to create quiet, sacred moments in your day where you are fully listening. That is what (true) yoga, meditation, walking (with no headsets), are for. Have a simply fantastic day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ask that you spread the word to your friends about www.ButterflyMoms.com and that you come back often so that you can fill your soul with wonderful energy! Like fresh, cool water from a mountain stream it will re-energize you! MWAH!!!!!!!!!!

I sometimes fall into a blissfull state of staus quo. I feel like there are soooooooo many things coming at me that I, in a sense, shut down parts of me. Yesterday I realized that our finances were much different than I thought. At first I raged, yelled, screamed, cried. I stayed with it though. I stayed present to the pain and “ickiness”. It helped me give me the focus I had been craving. It is just another simple reminder that life is always unfolding for our best and highest good. We are on this earth school to learn, play and love. Make sure you get your daily doses of those three vitamins (vitamin LE, P, L 😉

“TO HAITI WITH LOVE” YARD SALE CHALLENGE

GOES OUT TO ALL BUTTERFLYMOMS

Holliston, MA (January 16, 2010) – In the wake of one of the deadliest earthquakes in history, Butterflymoms.com is putting out a challenge to mothers around the world to bond our global community and help the families of Haiti. On January 30 and 31, 2010 simply hold a yard sale, or generously support someone who is having one, to raise money for the families of Haiti who are suffering deeply this very moment.

Like many of us Jill Roberson, a ButterflyMom, wanted to do something after the horrifying images coming from Haiti. “I could not just send money and turn the channel, said Ms. Roberson. “It was so massive, so heartbreaking. I felt powerless.” She started sharing her frustrations on Facebook and came up with the idea for a yard sale to raise money and awareness for Haiti. Very quickly people started coming out of the woodwork wanting to help. “It was almost like they were desperate to do something, anything, to help. That started us thinking,” said Maria Salomão-Schmidt, founder of Butterflymoms.com. “How can we spread this to others so that we all help each other heal from this tragedy?” They decided to turn it into a global challenge so that we could all stand together in an act that unites us and directly helps the people of Haiti.

THE CHALLENGE…An Invitation to Make a Difference!

You are cordially invited on Saturday and Sunday, January 30 and 31, 2010 to hold a yard sale to help raise money for the wonderful people of Haiti. Go through your “stuff” and the sell the items you no longer use. It’s a win-win because you get to clear your space to make room for abundance in your life and the money raised will help alleviate the kind of suffering most of us cannot even fathom. Do it the way you like-pick times, place, what you sell. Involve the kids, other moms, ask for spaces (most people will give them to you for free or a reduced cost). If you can’t do it “live” do it via the web. Sell your stuff on Craigslist or eBay. Be creative some people are even doing “hugging booths”. Call the local fire department, Girl Scouts, Boys & Girls’ Club, Rotary Club, PTA, Alumnae association, newspaper, news stations, neighbors, AMVETS, your church, your teachers, your kids, your boss, your employees, your co-workers, your mother….Get everyone involved. If you don’t have stuff to sell offer to pick up stuff or help set up or sell it. If you can’t, then just come and shop that day. Tell everyone. It will make people feel better because it is something we can all do to help, and we are doing it together. If we can spread the word fast enough (there is not much time) we can tap into the love that is in each and every one of our communities! When you raise the money send it into The Red Cross or any other reputable organization. The goal is to raise $1,000,013 so let us know how much you make! If you are having a yard sale post the details on the blog section of www.butterflymoms.com. If you are on Facebook or Twitter go to the Butterflymoms group and post it there. You can also post it on www.craigslist.com. What is going to be your first step? There is not a lot of time!

Butterflymoms.com is a group that helps focus our attention on the evolution and spirituality of motherhood. For more information go to www.butterflymoms.com

I just had to share this email with y’all. It is a simple reminder that we are all connected. There is no such thing as total strangers!! Let me set it up for you. I was doing a showing on a condo in Boston and was sending out really great vibes because it was a stressful situation (too long to explain here). I had my lucky Butterflymoms necklace on. I was meeting another friend who is also an agent who was hours away from having his first baby so I stopped at a store to get flowers. I took a moment to be totally present and appreciate that I was in Boston, could afford the flowers and was feeling happy when this happened….

Hi Maria,

My name is Tina. This is going to sound very strange (or maybe not), but I think I remember you from about six months ago. I work at the candy store on Mass ave in Boston called BonBon (Funny enough, I know Damon very well since he worked at Floyd’s next door).

If I’m correct, you came in one day wearing a beautiful butterfly necklace and we had a conversation about your lovely daughter who passed. If this is not you, then I’m going to sound like a crazy person, but if it IS you then I have such a story to tell you!

That day I commented on how your necklace was beautiful, and I mentioned that I collected butterflies. You said it represented your daughter who passed away from cancer. And when I told you my boyfriend passed away from cancer a few years ago, you gave me a great big hug. You talked about how your daughter was “the butterfly” and she always watched out for people and you also smiled at me and said that my luck was going to change, I was special, and something wonderful was going to happen and i should enjoy every minute of it. Well, I think you were right, and I wanted to say thank you.

It’s a little unbelievable, but amazing. Just a few days after you came in, my mom called me right when she stepped off the dock of her Norwegian cruise ship vacation. She and my dad go once a year. This year they had met someone, a young man, who was singing in a group on the cruise ship (I should also mention that I am a singer and musician). My mom wouldn’t stop gushing about him! She said she thought he was “perfect for me,” and even though she only talked to him for a total of less than ten minutes, she insisted that he and I get in touch. I told her she could give him my facebook and myspace information if she was that insistent on me seeing who this “amazing guy named Paul, who lives in Las Vegas” was. So she emailed the manager of the cruise entertainment and had the email forwarded to Paul.

Paul responded to my mother’s email with his email information and told her that he would love to “meet” me online since he thought we would get along well as friends. After a few days of chatting with him for hours and hours through instant message, we decided to use the video conference on our computers to “see” each other. I knew my mother was right about him. I liked him from the minute we started talking. But then something funny happened…something too coincidental to JUST be a coincidence…

Paul was giving me a virtual tour of his house in Las Vegas. When he was passing through the living room, I couldn’t believe my eyes. On his walls he had photo frames filled with real BUTTERFLIES! The same types of butterflies I had hanging on the wall of my bedroom! I asked him to go back to that wall with the camera to make sure I saw them correctly…he told me that his friends always wonder why he has “dead bugs hanging on the walls” and he told me not to laugh at him for being weird. He had no idea I was “weird” too, until I showed him mine and he couldn’t believe it. He had never known anyone else who collected them and neither did I!

I didn’t think anything of it until a few weeks later when I was falling asleep. All of the sudden I remembered you, and your necklace and your words about how your daughter watches over people.

It has now been six months, and I am moving from Boston to Las Vegas! I got a job singing out there, and Paul and I have seen each other, in person, once a month since we met. He’s amazing, handsome, and so sweet. I don’t know what else to say besides thank you for the hug that day, and thank you to your daughter if she is really watching out for people. I thought you might like to know the story.

I hope you are well, and I wish you all the best luck and happiness!

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Tina

Hope you put yourself out there and experience all of life’s amazing adventures! Remember you are always safe! Remember that you never know when your time will be up. You will never know a deeper pain than losing someone who love deeply and not having said what you need to say to them. Do it! Live life in the moment. Forget about the saying, “Seize the day”. I say “Seize this moment’ – it’s the ONLY thing you control.

A wonderful friend of mine Karen Kilgore sent me one of those “I’m thinking of you chain emails”. A few years back these were VERY popular and everyone sent them out. Well, over the years people got sick of them and now the amount that most people get is minimal. This one caught my eye and it sparked something inside of me to write the one below. One of my goals as a human being mommy is to spread more love around the world. This is a very simple, cost-free, feel-good way to do it. I ask that you also share it with your friends. I have found that one of the biggest secrets that moms hold deep inside themselves is the fear that they are bad mothers. Receiving one of these emails might just get them to remember on what is real and important. I hope you are inspired to send out this love message to those Butterflymoms you adore!

Dearest ButterflyMoms,

There are no “accident”. I have been asked to pick 12 women who have touched my life and who will take 6 minutes out of her day to bring more love into another’s mom’s life. I think that if this group of Butterflymoms were ever to be in a room together, we would be reminded that EVERYTHING is POSSIBLE. I hope I chose the right twelve.

“I am part of the same gorgeous life energy that creates, flowers, babies, sunsets, and seasons. I am always safe. I am always whole. The “ickies” I feel are simply a reminder that I’m going off course. I smile, take a deep breath and get back into alignment without judging myself. How do I know how to align myself? This is a feel-good universe. What feels good is the right answer for me, even though it might not be the right answer for someone else. I am unique. I am loved. I am love. I am safe. I am whole. Nothing is put in my path that I cannot handle. I am beautiful. I am spiritual. I am connected. I am a good mother. I am a ButterflyMom!

Continue to grow that happy feeling and while you are feeling this LOVE send this email to twelve ButterflyMoms who could also use a little reminder that they are LOVED right now! Who to pick? Well this is a great exercise for learning how to listen to your instinct, that’s why we have it, right? 😉 Now, send this to 12 ButterflyMoms and remember that I count as 1… you’ll see why.

Suggestion: copy and paste rather than forwarding it..

If you feel inspired by this please feel free to visit the site that celebrates the spiritual evolution of Mommyhood… www.ButterflyMoms.com ! Post your comments there! Come learn more about yourself and be heard! Together we will all build the ButterflyMom glow on and heal this planet of ours, and ourselves!

A reminder that before you rush into reading this that you take a nice, deep, gorgeous breath so you can take it all in… (no cheating now ;)…..There! Doesn’t that feel “bettah”? Get ready to be inspired. You will feel lighter after reading this, promise!

I have one of the most fantastic neighbors in the world! Victoria is a very kind, funny soul whois always there when you need her and knows when to give space too. She is one of my biggest ButterflyMoms fans. Even though she lives next door and we have this amazing bond, I have not seen her in what could be weeks! Two days ago I sent her an email. It read, “Just so you know. I really, really love and miss you! I think about you all the time. Just not enough hours in the day for all that I’m trying to cram in so I’m uncluttering my time.”

When I read it back it shocked me. The words “crammed” and “uncluttering my time” hit me. What kind of life am I living here? What example am I giving my children? Here I was thinking I have a grip on my life’s flow and BOOM, sudden awareness of how I am not aligned with my desired life.

Moments like this are what life is all about if you want to live a happy one! Just like in meditation the goal is to focus on finding your goal(in this case wanting a happy, meaningful life) and then letting go. When your mind starts to wander GENTLY (Do not judge your behavior) bring it back. “Life” is the same way. When your life starts to wander GENTLY bring it back. Tomorrow I will write more about this topic because it is incredibly important!

In the meantime take wonderful care of yourself! Your children are learning how to treat themselves by WATCHING how you treat yourself!

Imagine that after an especially tough week one of your best friends surprises you and says I’m taking you to your FAVORITE restaurant anywhere in the world! You pack your bags and head to the airport! Arrangements for your children have already been made so you are all covered there too. There is a beautiful limousine to pick you up and drop you off at the airport. You have a wonderful time on the plane catching up with your friend and feeling like a queen after the on-flight massage, pedicure and manicure (hey, we can all dream, right 🙂

When you land a limousine is waiting for you and your friend. It whisks you to your favorite restaurant. It’s the kind of place that has 8 courses of the most scrumptious food anyone has EVER tasted. Just reading the menu makes your mouth water. Take a moment to think of your FAVORITE foods. They have ALL of them, exactly like you like them! You and your friend order. As the servers begin bringing in the wonderful dishes you take each one and stick it in the blender in front of you. As soon as every dish is regally delivered to you, you turn on the blender and let it do its thing. Drink up, right?

WHAT?!!!! WAIT!!!! If someone gifted you with this experience is that how you would want to eat this fabulous banquet? NO???? Then why would you do it with the way you life your life? When we live a life without boundaries that is exactly what we are doing. Even if each piece is perfect, without limits and boundaries it becomes basically GUNK!

Ask yourself if you are living a GUNKY life! If the answer is yes then take your first step and acknowledge it. Being “mind-full” is paramount. Just like if you’ve ever meditated (or tried to ;), it’s all about GENTLY bringing your attention BACK TO AWARENESS. AWARENESS is your gate-keeper. It is built into you. It’s is one of the gifts you get when you are born. Those who use it have a much “fun-er-er” time on this planet! Don’t miss out on the fun! How are you feeling right now? Sit with whatever feelings come up. Never judge. Just feel. Just be. Wherever you are is exactly where you need to be. You are safe. Feel and let go. Feelings come from somewhere, bottling up or ignoring those feeling cause the death of your soul. Chew on that! 😉 (Pun intended!)

Right now, take a deep cleansing breath. Start connecting yourself to the “now”. Nothing to buy, make, fix, borrow, shift…just being here and noticing what is around you. From the moment we wake up each day our brain replays the same questions over and over again. Many times these are the questions that we have picked up from family, society, and the Land of Should. It is in these “unserving” questions where many of us get “stuck”, much like a broken record. By noticing this and changing the questions you move your life into a collection of “nows” that when joined together create the life you always dreamed about but never thought you’d have (unless you won the lottery ;).

So today dust off your dreams. Get excited about living again! This is the EARTH SCHOOL! Your goal is to feel good, have fun, and learn. Imagine that! No, really imagine it! All it takes is being in the “now”. Want me to share something I’ve been doing that has really helped?

Over the past few days when I get up and put my feet on the floor I think of the ONE thing I want to accomplish that day. That’s right! I said “one”, not 10! I must admit that being a mom of four and business owner, only “one” was hard to come up with and actually it took me a couple of days to be able to do it. Picking only one is part of the exercise. It’s about trusting and not living a crammed life. We are always so “busy”. There is a quote out there that we are all rushing towards our graves. What is the big hurry? Where are we rushing to? It is in the non-rushing that we find joy. That is when you get to savor people, lives, food, books, children, gifts, moments.

At the end of the day I sit in the same position after I’m done reading and before I’m about to go to sleep. I think of the one thing in my day that I did that I’m most happy about. It might have nothing to do with what I set out to do. This also helps because many of us go to sleep thinking about everything that went wrong in our day. When this happens all our negative thoughts “simmer” all night long in our brains and we wake up not-so-happy. By going to sleep with a happy feeling in our hearts and brains we re-align with the kind of life that gives us meaning and purpose and joy! After 10 days you will see a major happy shift. Beware though because if you collect enough of those shifts, you are going to align yourself to a happy, meaningful life by default and before you know it will spread to your kids, friends, family and even total strangers! Joy is very contagious! You have been warned! 😉

Check Out... THE HAPPY ME RETREAT...

Join Transformational Life Coach, Maria Salomão-Schmidt for a unique 6 day/5 night retreat to Azores, Portugal, where you'll experience the culture, taste and feel of this absolutely stunning sub-tropical island. The Azores are a magical, volcanic land, full of natural, raw beauty, a temperate climate and endless amazing activities. Truly a paradise, and under 5 hours from Boston! There will also be plenty of time for respite and retreat amongst the beautiful fruity orchards of Quinta Minuvida, our home for the week. It's Time For Some Deep Happiness...